REVIEWS

The Who Still Plays On? Yes … And With Pizazz

By Joe Williams

Special To The Post-Dispatch

Virtually alone among the bands with sufficient tenure and pedigree to be wheeled into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the Who continues to matter.

On Saturday night at Riverport, the group delivered a vital and innovative performance of "Quadrophenia" that astounded even longtime fans. Pete Townshend penned "Quadrophenia" in 1973, building on the motifs and structures of the rock-opera format he first attempted in "Tommy." "Quadrophenia" is arguably a superior work but not nearly as towering a presence in the commercial landscape.

While "Tommy" is a somewhat facetious sendup of youth culture and rock stardom (and thus lends itself to a big-budget stage show), "Quadrophenia" is a sympathetic and affecting portrait of a prototypical Who fan, circa 1965, whose four-faceted personality mirrors the four character types of the band members.

The film version of "Quadrophenia" was a triumph of kitchen-sink realism and violent choreography, one of the best movies about youth culture ever made. Judging by the careful stagecraft of the live "Quadrophenia" show, Townshend is nudging his baby back into the spotlight, perhaps readying it for a run on Broadway, where it can compete against big-brother "Tommy."

This touring version of "Quadrophenia" combines narrated video footage of Jimmy the Mod, actors representing a mock-heroic Elvis and a snottily subservient Ace Face, and an excellent backing band featuring keyboardist Rabbit Bundrick, drummer Zack Starkey (spawn of Ringo Starr) and guitarist Simon Townshend.

The younger Townshend has ably assumed most of the lead guitar chores from his hearing-impaired brother (a bit of irony for you "Tommy" fans), but Pete occasionally chucks the acoustic for a whirl on the Fender.

Although the stagecraft was compelling and the backing band was in perfect lock step with the passionate, brassy arrangements, the center of interest was the three surviving members of the Who.

Tireless singer Roger Daltrey, with his patented whipping microphone technique, remains a marvel of genetics, with a muscular voice that matches his sculpted physique.

John Entwistle, with his unchanging expression and manic fretwork, remains the standard by which all rock bassists are measured. And middle-aged Pete Townshend, with his wise smile, tender voice and fierce attachment to his instrument, remains somehow the embodiment of no-compromise youth.

Unfortunately for potential backers of a Broadway show, there was nary a mod parka or skinny necktie in the whole of Riverport, and the classic-rock audience that clamored for the more recognizable Who material got its wish with an encore of greatest hits that included "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Substitute," "Behind Blue Eyes" and "I Can't Explain."

POSTnet has multimedia guide to group. POSTnet details, Page 2A